Cover assembly for a gas range



June 1, 1965 E. J. PORACKI 3,136,398

COVER ASSEMBLY FOR A GAS RANGE Filed June 28, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l Fl GI 74 78 79 Z INVENTOR. EMERY J. FOR A CKI ATTORNEYS June 1, 1965 E. J.PORACKI COVER ASSEMBLY FOR A GAS RANGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 28,1962 INVENTOR. EMERY J. PORACKI ATTORNEYS June 1, 1965 J. PORACKI COVERASSEMBLY FOR A GAS RANGE Filed June 28, 1962 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG-7 4 42 B m 9 v! I ll :llll Ill r l ll lll ||l|lll|l||| I/TN'VENTOR.

EMERY J. PORACKI (5M, Weiye FIG. 8

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,186,398 COVER ASSEMBLY FGR A GAS RANGEEmery J. Porachi, Downey, Califi, assignor to The Tappan This inventionrelates as indicated to gas ranges and more particularly to gas rangesof the type wherein the oven is adopted to be elevated above the surfaceburner for eye level mounting of the oven in the installed range.

In previous 'gas ranges of'this type the cooking top assembly of the gasrange has been elevated to approximately waist height and it has beenproposed to mount the assembly and the gas burners forming part of thesuch assembly for horizontal movement from a withdrawn, inner positionto an extended, outer position for normal operation of the burners. Insuch ranges the gas lines leading to the individual burners had to beconstructed and arranged to provide for movement of the burners.Structural arrangements for accommodating such movement have includedthe use of flexible gas lines or gas lines comprising relatively movablesections. Although these arrangements have proved quite satisfactory,cer tain advantages attend the stationary mounting of the gas burners,and it is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide animproved gas range wherein the cooking top assembly is partially movableand par tially stationary, that portion which is stationary includingthe gas burners and gas lines eading thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide control apparatusresponsive to inward movement of the movable portion of the cooking topassembly to automatically cut off the flow of gas to the burners, suchcontrol, however, not effecting the flow of gas to the pilot lines forsaid burners.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gas range wherein theburners are completely concealed at the inner or retracted position ofthe movable portion of the cooking top assembly.

Yet another object is to provide a novel temperature sensing devicecarried by the movable portion of the cooking top assembly, such device,when the assembly is in its fully extended position, being centrallypositioned relative to the burner associated therewith.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In the said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a range embodying the invention, thecooking top assembly being shown in its fully extended position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the gas supply lines and controls therefor forsupplying gas to the respective burners of the range;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the range of FIG. 1, the cookingt-op assembly, however, being illustrated in its withdrawn, i.e., inner,position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the pants,there illustrated in vertical section taken approximately on line 44 ofFIG. 1, cooking top assembly, as in FIG. 3 being illustrated in itswithdrawn, i.e. inner, position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 55 of FIG. 1;

ice

FIG, 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the burner having associated therewith thenovel temperature sensing device of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIG. 1, therange comprises an oven portion generally indicated at A and ahorizontal base portion generally indicated at B. Such base portionincludes fixed framing means to fixedly mount the gas burners and meansto slidably receive a movable cover assembly, to be further describedhereinbel-ow. The oven portion A comprises side walls 14, top wall 16and a pair of oven liner sections, the main oven liner section 18 beingshown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. The other liner section (not shown)comprises the broiler oven of the range. Both of the oven liner sectionsare enclosed by means of oven doors 20 and 22, the main oven being shownon the left with the door 20 therefor being hinged at the left side ofthe main oven section and opening outward in the usual fashion. Thebroiling oven section shown on the right and the door 22 therefor ishinged adjacent the right side of the oven section and similarly swingsoutwardly. The doors 2t) and 2.2 are desirably provided with glasspanels in normal fashion.

The range is provided with the customary controls,

such controls being placed at the top of the range at burners for theovens.

approximately eye level, as shown in FIG. 1, and including a clock 24, atimer 26, and appropriate manual control switches 28 for the control ofthe gas burners and the As well understood in the art, the control knobsfor the oven and, in the form shown, a temperature controlled surfaceburner, are in the form of temperature dials allowing the ovens and thetemperature controlled burner to be controlled for a preselectedtemperature. At the adjacent lower front of the oven section there isalso provided an electrical convenience outlet 30 for the usual purpose.

The cooking top comprises a movable cover assembly 34, to be morespecifically described hereinbel'ow, which is adapted to be movedinwardly to a retracted position or to be moved outwardly to an extendedposition, such extended position being shown in FIG. 1. The cooking topassembly further comprises four stationary, horizontally aligned gasburners 36, each burner having associated therewith a cooking openingprovided with a grate member 33, each oi which is adapted to overlie itsrespective burner when the cover assembly is in its extended position.One of the gas burners, the right-most burner as seen in FIG. 1, hasassociated therewith a temperature sensing device 46 which is mounted onthe cover assembly and functions to regulate the gas supply to theburner in response to the temperature of the utensil positioned thereon.The temperature sensing device 40 is mounted in suspended fashion on thecover assembly and is movable therewith, as will be described in moredetail hereinbelow when particular reference is made to FIG. 5.

FIG. 3 is a side profile of the range and shows the cover assembly inits retracted or inner position wherein cutting board 42 overlies thegas burners 36 and wherein the grate members 38 are disaligned from saidgas. burners. The oven doors 2i) and 22 are rearwardly offset from thegas burners so as to accommodate utensils placed on the latter. Thecombustion air is vented from the ovens as shown by the dotted linearrows through longitudinally extending vent passage 44, such ventingmeans forming no part of the instant invention. Also shown in dottedlines are the oven liner 18 for the main oven and the gas burneritTassociated therewith. In a well-known manner, the gas burner ismounted in the lower portion of the main oven, Whereas the gas burnerfor the broiler section (not shown) is mounted in the upper portion ofsuch section.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is illustrated thereinthe gas supply andcontrol apparatus for supplying gas to the cooking top and oven burners.Gas is introduced through the main supply line 48 and flows therefrom toa manifold valve 50 and therefrom to the pilots for the ovens and therespective gas burners and through controlled gas distributor lines tothe burners; Specifically, gas lines 52 and 54 supply gas for thepilots, each pilot accommodating a pair of adjacent burners, as shown.Gas lines 556 and 53 leading from the manifold valve extend to thepilots (not shown) in the main and broiling ovens, respectively. Anautomatically operated safety control valve 6t is interposed in line 52extending away from the manifold valve 5t), safety control valve 6t?being respective to the movement of the cover assembly 34 toautomatically shut off the supply of gas to the gas burners when thecover assembly is moved inwardly, as will be further explainedhereinbelow. A second distribution line 64 extends from manifold valve5d to the oven burners in a well known manner. Gas is supplied throughdistribution lines 66 to the three surface burners on the left, asviewed in FlG. 2, from the common distribution line 67 which leads fromthe safety control valve 60.

interposed in each of the lines as is a manual control' valve 68, eachof the manual control valves 68 being regulated by the manual controlknobs 28 positioned on the top of the range, and referred to above. Athird distribution line '70 leads from the safety control valve as tothe fourth burner, which has associated therewith the temperaturesensing device 45) referred to above and which Will be further explainedhereinbelow. A solenoid valve 72 is interposed in this latter line andfunctions to open or close such line to gas flow therethrough, thesolenoid valve 72 being electrically responsive to the temperaturesensing device.

' Referring to FIG. 4, wherein the slidable cover assembly 34 is shownin its retracted or inner position, the cover assembly 34 is closed atthe front by means of front panel 74 and at the sides by means of sidepanels 76. The cover assembly 34 has an open bottom to accommodatemovement of the cover assembly relative to the frame and the fixedburner structure. The front panel 74- and side panels 76 are in the formof inverted,-channel shaped members having exposed, horizontalconnecting webs '78 and 79 which are in the horizontal plane of theupper surface of the cover assembly. The side panels 76 abuttinglyengage the front panel '74 and are attached thereto by any suitablemeans. Longitudinallyextending channel members 80 and 81 are preferablyintegrally secured to the side panels 76 and extend therebetween nearthe middle and at the inner ends of the side panels. The channel members8% and 31 are of similar cross section to the front and side panels 74and 76, respectively, with the connecting web portions thereof, however,being of slightly wider extent, as can be seen in FIG. 4. It will thusbe seen that the front panel 74, side panels 76 and channel members 86and 81 form a frame or enclosure defining a pair of outer and innersections, the former being bounded by front panel 74 and channel member84 and the latter being bounded by channel members 80 and 81.

Transverse brace or support members 32 are interposed between the frontpanel 74 and the channel member 89 and connected thereto, the bracemembers 82 serving to support the cutting board 42. The cutting board isremovably connected to the transverse braces by wing'nuts (not shown) ateach longitudinal end of the cutting board, whereby said cutting boardcan be readily removed for cleaning.

Inasmuch as the pilots remain lit whether the cover assembly is in anextended or withdrawn position, metallic shields 84 are mounted on thebottom of the cutting board in those areas of the cutting board whichoverlie the pilots Cit - rectangularly shaped and being provided withopenings therein corresponding in shape to the grates and drip pans. Thegrate supporting member 92 is provided with a downwar ly extendingperipheral flange 93, the bottom edge of which contacts the inwardlydirected flanges as, $3, and hi above referred to.

Each grate 38 is removably positioned on the grate supporting member 92by means of conventional downwardly depending lugs 94 which extendthrough correspondingly shaped openings in the supporting member.interposed between the grates 3S and the grate supporting member 92 aredrip pans 96 associated with each burner. Each drip pan as is providedwith an outwardly extending peripheral flange db which is adapted tooverlie the inwardly directed flanges 1% of the grate supporting member,the drip pans 5 6 being thereby supported on the flanges ltltl. The drippans 96 are provided with openings in the peripheral flange 98, saidopenings being aligned with openings in the grate supporting member 88whereby the lugs 94 depending from the grates also extend downwardlytherethrough to prevent rotation of said drip pan when the latter is 'inits intended position.

The drip pans 5 6 perform the usual function of catching any drippingswhich inadvertently emanate from utensils placed on the burners. Toaccommodate movement of the drip pans to and from their aligned positionwith the gas burners, the pans are provided with arcuate, upwardlyoffset portions 1&2 which are elevated sufiiciently above the top levelof the gas burners and are of sufficient arcuate extent to allow thedrip pan to slide over said burners. In addition, the drip pans areprovided, of course, with central openings of a diameter sufliciently inexcess of the diameter of the gas burners to allow the drip pans to moveto and from the extended position of the cover assembly. I

The horizontally aligned gas burners 36 are fixedly mounted on the rangeframe as shown in FIG. 4. Specifically a generally Z-shaped bracket 1%is mounted on the stationary base portion of the range, the burnersbeing fixedly secured to the uppermost horizontal portion of thebracket. The burners are supported at their inner or rearward ends bymeans of orifice hoods 1% which extend into the end walls of the burnersand communicate with the gas distribution lines 66 above referred to.The burners 36 are conventionally constructed in the form of hollowcastings, the openings therein providing for flow of gas from theorifice hoods to the burner heads. The orifice hoods extend throughstraight mixer fittings 1438 which in turn are supported by an L-shapedpartition member which is aflixed to the base and extends longitudinallythereon. from the spud to eventual connection to the safety controlvalve 60, as explained. above in reference to FIG. 2.

The safety control valve as is mounted on the base and extends upwardlytherefrom by means of an upwardly extending bracket 112 whiehis mountedon the frame. Bracket 112 comprises a pair of spaced ears 1 14 whichpivotally mount lever lie. The lever .116 has an upwardly extendingL-shaped end portion 118 which is adapted to be contacted by adownwardly depending valve actuating member 119 which is carried by themovable cover assembly. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the valve actuatingmember 119 is secured to and extends downwardly from the channel member31. The safety valve as has a valve tem 1% which extends through anopenin in the lever 116. A coil spring means 122 is teleseoped aroundthe valve stem 12?: and functions to nor- The gas lines 66 extendrearwardly mally urge the valve stem and the valve to a downwardposition thereby shutting off the gas flow therethrough. It will be seenthat When the valve actuating member 119 carried by the cover assemblyis moved to its FIG. 5 position, the valve tem of the safety valve willbe forced upwardly against the bias of spring 122 thereby opening thevalve 6% and allowing gas to flow to the main burners. The structuralarrangement is such that the valve actuating member 119 does not actuateor open the valve 60 until the cover assembly is in its fully extendedposition whereby gas is allowed to flow to the burners only during suchfully extended position. It will likewise be apparent that valve 65 willassume its normal, closed position immediately upon movement of thecover assembly from its outer, extended position.

Referring to FIG. 5 there is illustrated therein the novel temperaturesensing device 40 of the invention. The temperature sensing device 40 issuspended by means of a bracket 124 from one of the arms of the grate38. Specifically, noting also FIG. 6, bracket 124 is provided with anopening 126 which fits around the outer portion of the grate arm. Thebottom of the bracket, noting FIG. 6, comprises a pair of diverging coilsupporting members 128 which function to support a pair of metallicconduit-carrying coils 130 leading from the temperature sensing device40. The coils 130 extend through an opening 131 provided therefor in thedrip pan and into an electrical terminal assembly generally indicated at132. The terminal assembly 132 is mounted on the movable cover assembly34 by bolt securing means 134 which extends through aligned openings inthe terminal housing and in the inwardly directed flange 88 of channelmember 81.

The terminal assembly 132 comprises a pair of sockets 138 which areadapted to receive the current conductive lead ends 140 of the coils130. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the pair of sockets 138 include a pair ofleaf spring contact elements 142 adapted to frictionally engage andtightly contact the lead ends 140 of the coils Wherefore current istransmitted from the head of the temperature sensing device 40 to thesockets 138. Suitable current carrying wires 144 are provided in contactwith the leaf spring contact members and lead from the sockets 138 tothe solenoid actuated valve 72 referred to above. The temperaturesensing device 40 functions in the normal manner providing an electricalimpulse which is proportional to the temperature in the area immediatelyadjacent the device. This temperature can be preselected by means, forexample, of a temperature control knob referred to above mounted on thefront of the range. As will be understood, when this predeterminedtemperature has been reached, the electrical impulse from thetemperature sensing device will be suflicient to actuate the solenoidvalve 72 thereby closing the supply line and preventing gas from flowingto the gas burner associated with the temperature sensing device. Itshould be particularly noted that the temperature sensing device 40 issuspended and is not fixedly mounted, the means for suspending, asexplained above, comprising the bracket and the connection between theleading end of the current carrying coils and the leaf spring contactmembers in the terminal sockets. The connection between the lead ends140 of the' coils 130 leading from the temperature sensing device andthe terminal sockets is thus readily connectible and disconnectible.Therefore, if desired, the temperature sensing device 40 can be readilyremoved from the terminal assembly for purposes of cleaning, etc.

Referring to FIG. 7, the cover assembly is moved inwardly and outwardlyrelative to the fixed frame by means of a pair of guide rollers 146which extend outwardly from the side panels 76 of the cover assembly.These rollers extend into slots 148 which are provided in the base 12for the purpose of guiding the rollers 146 during movement thereof. Thissliding arrangement is conventional and forms no part of the instantinvention. It will be understood that the opposite side of the coverassembly is provided with a similar roller and slot arrangement.Reference to FIG. 7 will also show the above-described upwardly offsetarcuate portion 102 of the drip pan 96 and the opening in the drip panto accommodate the forward movement thereof into aligned positionrelative to the burner.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:

1. In a gas cooking device, a base, a gas burner fixedly mounted on saidbase, means for controllably supplying gas to said burner, and a coverassembly including a top Wall cooperating with said base in forming acooking top enclosure for the gas burner, means for supporting said topwall for movement horizontally relative to the burner, said top wallhaving a cooking opening therein and an imperforate portion forwardlythereof, with the top Wall being adjustable by such relative movementthereof between one position in which said opening is above the gasburner to expose the same for use and another position in which theimperforate portion of the top wall is above and is suflicient in sizeto conceal the burner.

2. A gas cooking device as set forth in claim 1 in cluding means wherebymovement of the top wall to the position concealing the burnerautomatically prevents supply of gas to the same.

3. A gas cooking device as set forth in claim 1 Wherein the top Wallcarries a grate at the opening thereof for supporting of utensils abovethe burner when exposed at the opening in the top wall.

4. A gas cooking device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top wallcarries a temperature sensing device positioned in the opening thereof,with said device being positioned to engage a utensil supported on thetop wall at the opening in the position thereof exposing the gas burnerbeneath the opening.

5. A gas cooking device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top wallcarries a removable drip pan in the opening thereof, and wherein saidsupporting means brings said drip pan into registry with the gas burnerby movement of said top wall to said one position of the adjustmentthereof.

6. A gas cooking device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the top wallalso carries a utensil supporting grate removably spanning the openingtherein above the drip pan.

7. A gas cooking device as set forth in claim 6 where in a temperaturecontrol means is carried by the top wall centrally of the grate, saidcontrol means being positioned to engage the bottom of a utensilsupported on the grate and to control the gas flow to the burner inaccordance with the temperature of the utensil.

8. A gas cooking device as set forth in claim 7 Wherein the temperaturecontrol means is partially supported by a connection to the grate and isdetachable from the grate and the top wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 180,069 4/57Clark 126-214 2,175,420 10/39 Williams et a1 126-42 2,411,464 11/26Reeves 12639 2,513,051 6/50 Ray 126-39 2,514,133 7/50 Barre et al.126--42' 2,880,614 4/59 Reiter 126214 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, PrimaryExaminer'

1. IN A GAS COOKING DEVICE, A BASE, A GAS BURNER FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAIDBASE, MEANS FOR CONTROLLABLY SUPPLYING GAS TO SAID BURNER, AND A COVERASSEMBLY INCLUDING A TOP WALL COOPERATING WITH SAID BASE IN FORMING ACOOKING TOP ENCLOSURE FOR THE GAS BURNER, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID TOPWALL FOR MOVEMENT HORIZONTALLY RELATIVE TO THE BURNER, SAID TOP WALLHAVING A COOKING OPENING THEREIN AND AN IMPERFORATE PORTION FORWARDLYTHEREOF, WITH THE TOP WALL BEING ADJUSTABLE BY SUCH RELATIVE MOVEMENTTHEREOF BETWEEN ONE POSITION IN WHICH SAID OPENING IS ABOVE THE GASBURNER TO EXPOSE THE SAME FOR USE AND ANOTHER POSITION IN WHICH THEIMPERFORATE PORTION OF THE TOP WALL IS ABOVE AND IS SUFFICIENT IN SIZETO CONCEAL THE BURNER.